Vacuum stripper for carding engines



' May 22, 1928. 1,671,063

E. CLARK VACUUM STRIPPER FOR CARDING ENGINES Filed March 1925 44 4 5 Patented May 22, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrics.

ERNEST CLARK, OF ABINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'IO ABINGTON TEXTILE MACHINERY WORKS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A TRUST OF MASSACHUSETTS.

VACUUM STRIPPER FOR CARDINGr ENGINES.

Application filed March 5, 1925. Serial No. 13,054.

The invention has relationto the pneumatic stripper mechanisms which are employed for removing accumulations of dirt, short fibers, etc., from among the teeth of the card-clothed surfaces of the cylinders and other fiber-working elements of carding engines. Stripper mechanisms of the type to which the invention is designed to be applied have a carriage which has combined therewith means for traversing it across a carding engine, from one side of the latter to the other lengthwise of the cylinders of such machine. WVith the said carriage are combined one or two pneumatic nozzles normally having their mouths disposed in close proximity to the card-clothed surfaces which are to be stripped. For instance, the well known Cooks vacuum card stripper in general use in cotton and other mills comprises two nozzles, one arranged for stripping the main cylinder of a carding engine and the other arranged 'for stripping the dotler thereof, connected with an airchamber constituted by a suction-box upon the carriage, such suction-box being in communication with a pump or other means for exhausting the air from the suction-box. This organization is designed for use in stripping the main cylinder, usually termed the cylinder, and doiier simultaneously in the traverse of the carriage, suction-box, and nozzles, from one side of the machine to the other.

In practice valve devices are provided for enabling the flow of air through the nozzle or nozzles 01 a pneumatic stripper to be controlled by an attendantso that such flow may be caused to occur or be stopped at will. Stripper devices comprising a plurality of pneumatic stripper nozzles usually are pro-, vided, with a corresponding plurality of valves respectively combined with the individual nozzles and providing for separate control of the flow through the respective nozzles.

The present invention comprises improve ments in connection with the valve or valves just mentioned. I I

Illustrative embodiments ofthe features of the invention are shown in the drawings, in which latter,' i i Fig. .1 is a side elevation of a suction box and nozzles, including the said embodiments, with portions broken away.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a View in section on line 3, 3, of Fig. 1, showing the valve which in Figs. 1 and 2 is combined with the doflennozzle, such valve being shown in its closed position instead of in the open position represented in Fig. 1.

At 1 is represented a so-called three-way piece, similar to that forming apart of the Cook vacuum card stripper, and constituting what may be termed a suction-box. In prac tice it is mounted upon the stripper-carriage, and traverses therewith across the carding engine to which the stripper attachment of which the suction-box and carriage constitute elements is applied. The three-way piece or suction-box is mounted upon the traversing carriage by means of clamping screws occupying slots 11, Fig.- 1, in a plate 12 extending downward from the body of the three-way piece or suction-box, the stems of such screws entering threaded holesthat are tapped inv the carriage. piece or suction-box is hollow. and in practice has attached thereto one end of a suit able suction-pipe (not shown), the said end being engaged with the three-way piece or suction-box at the outlet-opening 2, Fig. 2. To the three-way piece or suction-box are attached the two nozzles, 3 and 4%, also, such nozzles communicating with the interior space thereof. The nozzle 3 (only a portion of whichis shown in Figs. 1 and 2), extends rearwardly from the three-way piece or suc tion-box toward the cylinder, its induct-end or month (not shown) having a working position adjacent the card-clothed surface of the cylinder, so that during the traversing movement the induct-end or mouth works close to the said surface. The dofier-nozzle 4: extends downward from the three-way piece or suction-box, the induct-end or mouth of such nozzle working close to the surface of the card-clothingoi the do'ffer. This construction constitutes'a combination nozzle device which is adapted to stripboth the cylinder and the dofi'er at the same time.

To provide for establishing'or disestab- The three-way valve-member 31 is provided in connection with cylinder-nozzle 3, which when in closed positlon as in Figs. 1 and 2 prevents the flow of air through such nozzle, and when in open position, shown in vfull lines in Fig. 4 and partly indicated by dotted lines in Fig.

1 1, permits such flow to take place; and in connection with blotter-nozzle 4 a valve-member 41 is provided, which when in the open position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2 permits flow to take place through the dofi'er-nozzle, and when. in the closed position shown in Fig. 3 and partly indicated by dotted lines in F 1 prevents the flow of air through such nozzle. -The two valvemembers 31, 41, are operable independently of each other, permitting either valve to be closed or opened independently of the other. Either thereof may be opened or closed without disturbing the other, and either thereof maybe c-losedor opened either partway or all the way, as may be desired.

a The drawings show an adaptation of the valves to certain usual features of construction employed in practice in the case of the Cook vacuum'card stripper.

In usual practice the cylinder-nozzle 3 is combined detachably with the three-way piece or suction-box of the Cook vacuum card stripper by means of a socket-piece 5 having opposite lateral lugs or ears 51, 51, formed with holes to receive screws 52, 52, that engage also in threaded holes in opposite lateral lugs or ears 13,13, of one branch or extension of the three-waypiece or suc- I with the three-way piece or suction-box by means of screws 43, 43, engaging opposite lateral lugs or ears 44, 44,.on the upper end or butt of the dofl'er-nozzle, and corresponding lugs or ears 45, 45, on a second branch or extension of the three-way piece or suction-box.

The movable valve-members 31, 41, are fiat plates, and are arranged to extend transversely of the passageways in connection with the two nozzles, they being mounted 1n guideways in which they are adapted to slide. The said valve-members have portions 32, 42, thereof extended outward into position to be reached for convenience in manually shifting the valve-members from one position to another.

The guideway for movable valve-member 31 is provided through the employment of a group of three plates, 61, 6, 61, interposed between the meeting portions of socket-piece 5 and the three-Way piece or suction-box and fastened in place by means of the screws 52, 52. Such screws occupy holes in lateral portions of such plates. The middle plate 6.01? the three is formed with a slot into which the said movable valve-member fits, and the plates 61, 61, are in close contact with the opposite faces of the middle plate 6 and valve-member 31. The slot in plate 6, and holes 62 in the plates 61, 61, register with the passageway from the cylindernozzle. tutes a stop against which the inner end of valve-member 31 strikes to limit the stroke of such valve-member when itis in position to close the passageway with which the intenor of the cylinder-nozzle communicates. To limit the outward movement of the valvemember 31 when it has cleared the said passageway, a pin 36 is provided upon one or each side of. the said valve-member, for engagement with the upper edge of the hole 62, Fig. 4, through one or each of the plates 61, 61. In Figs. 1 and 4 a recess 63 is formed in said edge to accommodate the stoppin. This stop-pin prevents the valve-member from being withdrawn completely, thereby preventing loss of air-suction through the guideway in which the valve-member works. The upper and lower stops serve to correctly position the movablevalvemember3l when pushed up or down to its extreme limits so as to completely open up, or completely close up, as the case may be, the passageway and the flow of air therethrough.

The guideway for the movable valve-mem .ber 41 is formed between the meeting por tions of the dofEer-nozzle and three-way piece or suction-box, by means of spacing pieces 46, 46, located between such portions at the opposite edges of the said valve-member, as shown in Fig. 3, and engaged by the fastening screws 43, 43, which hold the deffer-nozzle in place. Upper stop-shoulders 47, 47, projecting outwardly from the edges of the valve-member engage with the top ends of the said spacing pieces to limit the extent of the closing movement of the valve- The inner end of such slot consti member. When said stop-shoulders.are engaged with said top ends a solid or unperders 48, 48, on movablevalve-member 41 engage with the bottom ends of the spacing pieces to limit the opening movementot' the valve-member ll. When said lower stopshouldersare engaged with said bottom ends the opening 49 in such valve-member is in register with such passageway. By means of these stop arrangements the movable valve-member 41 is cori-ectlylocated when pushed up or down to its extreme limits, and is prevented from being entirely removed, thereby preventing loss of air suction through the guideway in which it moves.

Although the features of the invention have been described herein with especial ref erence to employment in a suction system, it will be apparent that it is within the scope of the invention to employ them in connection with a system operating on the blowing principle.

Advantages of sliding plate-formed valvemembers on the order of those shown in the drawings are the low first-hand cost thereof, the convenience and readiness with which interengaging parts and contacting surfaces may be fitted, and the fact that the construction enables such valve-members to be held firmly against their seats by air-pressure so as to obviate air-leakage.

What is claimed as the invention is 1. In a traversing combination nozzle tor pneumatic stripper attachments for carding engines, the combination with a three-way piece, a cylinder-nozzle socket and a dotlernozzle respectively having their butt-ends approximated to the three-way piece, of a spacing plate interposed between said socket and the three-way piece and having a guideway therein, a valve-member movable in said guideway, spacing pieces interposed between the dofier-socket and the three-way piece, and a valve-member movable in the guideway formed between said spacing pieces.

2. In a traversing nozzle for pneumatic stripper attachments for carding engines, the combination with a member having an air-passage, and a nozzle, of a spacing plate interposed between said member and the base of the said nozzle and having a guideway therein, and a valve-member movable in said guideway controlling the flow of air 1 through said nozzle.

3. In a traversing nozzle for pneumatic strlpper attachments for carding englnes, the combinatlon with a member having an air-passage, and a nozzle, of a plurality of .the combination with a member having an air-passage, and a nozzle, of spacing pieces between said nozzle and said member at opposite sides of the passageway through the nozzle, and a valve-member movable in the guideway formed between the said spacing pieces.

5. In a traversing nozzle for pneumatic stripper attachments for carding engines, the combination with a member having an air-passage, and a nozzle, of spacing means between said nozzle and said member providing a guideway, a valve-member movable in the said guideway for controlling the flow of air through the nozzle, and stop-means for limiting the extent of the opening and closing movements oi the valve-member.

6. In a traversing nozzle for pneumatic stripper attachments for carding engines, the. combination with a member having an air-passage, and a nozzle, of an inserted plate having a guideway, a valve-member movable in the said guideway, limited as to its closing movement by one end of the guideway, and a stop-projection limiting the extent of the opening movement of the 'valve I member.

7. In a traversing nozzle for pneumatic stripper attachments for carding engines, the combination with a member having an air-passage, and a nozzle, of spacing pieces between said nozzle and said member at opposite sides of the passageway through the nozzle, and a valve-member movable in the guideway formed between the said spacing pieces, and having stop-projections which engage with said spacing pieces to limit the extent of the opening and closing movements of the valve-member.

ERNEST CLARK. 

